đź”— Share this article Olympic Athlete and Several Eritreans Freed After Nearly Two Decades Without Trial, Family Members Report Zeragaber Gebrehiwot competed at age 24 when he participated in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. A group of thirteen people held for over 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been released from a infamous military detention facility, according to family members of the detainees. Among those freed were several prominent figures, such as elderly Olympic athlete and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot. They had been held at Mai Serwa detention center, renowned for its severe environment and where many inmates are believed to be detained for political reasons. Details of the Detention A source who was previously held in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 following an attempted assassination on a senior internal security officer in the government. Around 30 people were originally arrested, per the source. Some have been released over the years, but roughly two dozen remained in custody. Profile of an Athlete Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Games in 1980 when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia. The nation in the Horn of Africa, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, has a strong tradition of cycling and its riders have increasingly earned international recognition in recent years. List of Released The individuals freed alongside Zeragaber include notable entrepreneurs Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a surveyor. A half-dozen high-level police officials and an state security officer were released as well. The Eritrean government has made no official comment regarding the releases of the detainees. Many of them are sick and this may be the reason why they have been freed now. Families were not allowed to visit the prisoners during their detention, the relatives reported. Global Condemnation and Detention Environment United Nations bodies and human rights groups have consistently criticized the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, including torture, forced disappearance and the detention of many thousands of people in inhumane conditions. Mai Serwa facility, located about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has grown over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held incommunicado, sources have indicated. Background on Government Rule For the past thirty years, Eritrea has remained a one-party state with no functioning constitution. It is among the world's most militarized countries, with indefinite military conscription. There has been no free press since the shutdown of private publications and arrest of most of their staff in 2001. This occurred after the government arrested 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they called for that the president implement the draft constitution and conduct democratic polls. According to advocacy organizations, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed. Aged 79, the president recently passed 32 years in power and has yet to participate in an election.
Zeragaber Gebrehiwot competed at age 24 when he participated in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. A group of thirteen people held for over 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been released from a infamous military detention facility, according to family members of the detainees. Among those freed were several prominent figures, such as elderly Olympic athlete and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot. They had been held at Mai Serwa detention center, renowned for its severe environment and where many inmates are believed to be detained for political reasons. Details of the Detention A source who was previously held in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 following an attempted assassination on a senior internal security officer in the government. Around 30 people were originally arrested, per the source. Some have been released over the years, but roughly two dozen remained in custody. Profile of an Athlete Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Games in 1980 when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia. The nation in the Horn of Africa, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, has a strong tradition of cycling and its riders have increasingly earned international recognition in recent years. List of Released The individuals freed alongside Zeragaber include notable entrepreneurs Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a surveyor. A half-dozen high-level police officials and an state security officer were released as well. The Eritrean government has made no official comment regarding the releases of the detainees. Many of them are sick and this may be the reason why they have been freed now. Families were not allowed to visit the prisoners during their detention, the relatives reported. Global Condemnation and Detention Environment United Nations bodies and human rights groups have consistently criticized the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, including torture, forced disappearance and the detention of many thousands of people in inhumane conditions. Mai Serwa facility, located about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has grown over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held incommunicado, sources have indicated. Background on Government Rule For the past thirty years, Eritrea has remained a one-party state with no functioning constitution. It is among the world's most militarized countries, with indefinite military conscription. There has been no free press since the shutdown of private publications and arrest of most of their staff in 2001. This occurred after the government arrested 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they called for that the president implement the draft constitution and conduct democratic polls. According to advocacy organizations, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed. Aged 79, the president recently passed 32 years in power and has yet to participate in an election.